DOGS DOGS DOGS...
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| Makeouts |
Mirror Mirror on the wall, who do my baby dogs love most of all?
its all me, all the time.
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| oooooo... smoooooches |
I want to talk about Gussie today.
Gus is pure pug - Malto in Parvo (a lot of dog in a small package)
He is wicked smart, but incredibly stubborn.
Awesome little man.
He is a much better behaved dog than Mooey, but I have had Gus for 3+ years...and there were long stretches of time when he was on the Worst Behaved Family Member List.
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| Me, Gus& Moo |
This is GUS TIME.
What an adventure my life has become just by being Gussie's mamma.
M told me that if I wanted a DOG, then I should/have to adopt one.
(When I capitalize=it was one of THE issues)
I wanted a dog for the last 7 years. I was getting a GD DOG.
First, it is not easy to adopt. Going to a rescue group and going through the adoption is like getting a Top Secret clearance. It's not like going to the shelter and finding a dog. Rescue fosters feel passionate about the welfare of the dogs, choose the family the dog goes to, and educates the new family to the dog. It has to be a joint effort...
And rightfully so, a rescue dog is more rehabilitated to a degree by being in a house, not in a cage and socializing with people. PLUS he was in a pure bred rescue. Gus was listed for like 3 days...and I had already passed DAS INTERVIEW. We drove 90 minutes away, and immediately picked him up. I took him on my lap and never did we look back. Well, he had fleas, a terrible scratch, newly neutered, and oh...so skinny.
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| Look at this robust boy! |
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| I forgot how small he was...look at him. this was immediately after I got him (9 mos) |
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| He has always been a lovie. But what a difference... |
Rescuing dogs is something that I feel passionate about. Gus was a rescue...and I understand why someone would be frustrated, and if I am not the "pack leader" at all times, he will slack off.
Frankly (Tom, Dick and Harry for that matter), he's not much better than my teen.
Give an inch of leash, and you get dragged down the damn street.
Adopting comes with all kinds of issues that you didn't cause. Gus is terrified of brooms, mops, swiffers, dusters, and rolled up anything. Basically if you can take a swing at him extended...he still cowers away. I got him at 9 months!! He chased anything with wheels- cars, bikes, motorcycles, little tykes wagons...he pooped on the floor, he screamed when I cut his nails, he was exasperating.
M hated him for a long time because like with anything that is a project- The JUGGERNAUT takes hold, and will not stop until success is achieved.
I ACHIEVE.
Our couple cuddletime for at least a year was interrupted by me saying all the time in a stern voice "puppy cage, Gus. I SAID PUPPY CAGE!!"
(btw, since it sounds like a cruel punishment - that is what we call his bed. Ox, our lab mix was raised with that, and for the sake of sameness...puppy cage it is.
clever M. so original.
Puppy cage is Hey DOG you are annoying someone, or you are licking something so that I notice it and get grossed out...or peee-yooooo! get down disGUSting
They still aren't besties, but recently there has been a shift, so they share me and M gets priority seating and the right to invoke puppy cage.
This never ceases to amaze me
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| GUS (Gustopher Lee) |
BTW, if you aren't the Dalai Lama - I don't care what you think - so there...) and if you walk away for a hot second, he's on that like a hobo on a hot dog.
So aside from coming with scars, terrible habits, and being a baby, he's the best dog in the whole world, because I made him that way.
I have admitted it. it dawned on me...
I love my boys...ooo lovies!
He spins in circles...its really awesome.
Spin Cycle...
Typical Day for the GusMan...Come on Gussie...time to get up.
(peel back the covers) (so so so cuddly cute when sleepy.)
[Cover with kisses on his nose, pull back so the sneeze doesn't hit you full in the face.
Nothing like dog snot to make you jump back in the shower.
Yeah, its like a fine mist of snot.]
Lets go outside? (tinkle tinkle/poopoo)
Yay for doing your business - how about...Chicken? CHI-KEN??
[that nasty chicken jerky - tiny piece because poop outside deserves reward and lots of high pitch praise - I treat every Poop like the first time...what the hell is wrong with me? my neighbors probably are going to turn me into that TV show - My Strange Obsession - crazy woman with that poor dog]
What time is it?
Breakfast? (700am)
Wait... [he lays down - WATCHING that dish.- see below]
Go Ahead. nomnomnom
Pet/kiss/lick lick lick
Cry at the upstairs window/mudroom as I drive away.
[Actually this pretty much sums up his day: add sleep, snore, sneeze, lick paw, chew on my underpants and possibly a baby squeaker, repeat]
Bark at the door when the keys jingle/alarm goes off!
Pet/kiss/lick lick lick
Water? Fresh! Water!! [why do they get so amped? Maybe its the coldness, or maybe its the Brita filtering]
Second Breakfast?? (630pm)
Bonesy Bone (dingo/rawhide) OR Do you want a COOKIE??!! (something crunchy)
Lets go to bed.
Snore, snort, sigh. [nite nite].
Bragging rights...
He knows like at least 50-60 words. No joke.
He knows to do his business when I say, right there or -poop under the tree. HE DOES!
His new trick is Tummies. he rolls over and lets you see/rub his tummies.
But my favorite- is "Excuse me, ladies first."
He will turn away from the door and stand behind me and wait
We are working on fetching and then bringing the "baby" back, with leave it.
60% there.
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| Gus is a devoted Ravens fan. He's manly. |
Finally in closing, this year has been a real bitch. I lost one of the most important people in my life, (and various other horrible/hurty things that I will eventually probably bitch about later)
I have to say, there is nothing like a dog to watch over you if/when/while you process the hurty things.
Lots of mistakes were made, but through it all, when Lil' was gone, and I didn't have a reason to get out of bed, he got me up and going.
He is small, but he's sturdy, and I'm so lucky to have the privilege to be with him.
Rescues are a game of chance.... man did I score. Everyone loves Gus, but most of all in the entire world...Gus loves me mostest.
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| I love you too, Gussie. |
